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[Respiratory circuits and infections of the airway]

M Verri1, M Capuzzo, M R Rossi

  • 1Istituto di Anestesiologia e Rianimazione, Università degli Studi, Ferrara.

Minerva Anestesiologica
|May 6, 1998
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Changing ventilator circuits every 10 days instead of every 5 days does not increase airway infections in mechanically ventilated patients. This extended interval offers significant cost savings without compromising patient safety.

Area of Science:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Hospital Infection Control

Background:

  • Ventilator-associated airway infections are a significant concern in intensive care units.
  • Current protocols often involve frequent ventilator circuit changes, incurring substantial costs and resource utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of ventilator circuit change frequency (5 vs. 10 days) on airway infection rates.
  • To determine the correlation between microbial colonization of ventilator circuits and subsequent patient infections.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study comparing two groups of mechanically ventilated patients (n=78) over two one-year periods.
  • Group I: ventilator circuit changed every 5 days; Group II: changed every 10 days.
  • Cultures of respiratory secretions and ventilator components were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in pneumonia or tracheobronchitis rates between the 5-day and 10-day circuit change groups.
  • Identical microorganisms were found in patient aspirates and circuits in 56% of cases, with no difference between infected and non-infected patients.
  • Patients who developed infections had significantly longer durations of mechanical ventilation.

Conclusions:

  • Extending ventilator circuit changes to every 10 days is safe and does not increase airway infection incidence.
  • This practice leads to considerable cost savings in materials and personnel time.
  • Routine cultures of ventilator components are not recommended for predicting or managing airway infections.

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